Behavior Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

The theory that all related organisms descended from common ancestors

A

Theory of Evolution

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2
Q

Who developed the Theory of Evolution and in what book was it introduced?

A

Charles Darwin and The Origin of Species

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3
Q

What did Darwin believe was the main factor in influencing animal behavior?

A

Instinct

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4
Q

The process that awards survival and reproductive success to individuals and groups best adjusted to their environment

A

Natural Selection

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5
Q

What did Darwin believe led to individual species adapting to their environments?

A

Natural Selection + Instinctive Behavior

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6
Q

The natural process of slow change and development that gradually leads to the development of new species of plants and animals over a very long time

A

Evolution

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7
Q

The classification given to a group of similar living organisms who can exchange genes and produce young

A

Species

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8
Q

Inherited or genetically coded responses to environmental stimuli / an animal’s inherent ability to perform tasks such as hunting, feeding, and mating

A

Instinct

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9
Q

What animal behavioral belief stemmed from Darwin’s theories of natural selection combined with instinct and asserts that much of what animals know is instinctive?

A

Classical Ethology

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10
Q

Kittens not needing to be taught what to do when presented with a litter box is an example of what behavioral theory?

A

Classical Ethology

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11
Q

Something that produces a learned response

A

Conditioned Stimulus

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12
Q

Something that produces a reflexive response

A

Unconditioned Stimulus

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13
Q

An involuntary, simple reflex behavior

A

Unconditioned Response

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14
Q

Who is the originator of the Behaviorism concept?

A

John B. Watson

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15
Q

The theory that says all complex forms of behavior (including emotions, thoughts, habits) are complex muscular and glandular responses that can be observed, measured, and learned

A

Stimulus Response Theory

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16
Q

What experiment is an example of Classical Conditioning?

A

Pavlov’s Experiment

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17
Q

What experiment is an example of Operant Conditioning?

A

Skinner’s Experiment

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18
Q

What are the two types of conditioned learning?

A

Classical and Operant

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19
Q

The theory that behavior is learned rather than genetically programmed

A

Behaviorism

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20
Q

Muscular and glandular responses that can be observed, measured and learned

A

Stimulus Responses

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21
Q

The association of stimuli that happens at approximately the same time or roughly the same area

A

Classical Conditioning

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22
Q

The association of an activity with punishment or reward

A

Operant Conditioning
*aka Instrumental Learning / Trial-and-Error Learning

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23
Q

The study of the biological basis of the social behavior

A

Sociobiology

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24
Q

Any immediate pleasant occurrence that follows a behavior and can be used to encourage desired behaviors

A

Positive Reinforcement

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25
Q

How quickly after a behavior must a reward be given in order for Positive Reinforcement to be effective?

A

20 seconds max

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26
Q

The removal of an immediate unpleasant occurrence to create a desired behavior

A

Negative Reinforcement

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27
Q

What is an example of Positive Reinforcement vs Negative Reinforcement?

A

Positive - Dog sits on command > treat or pets
Negative - Dog finally stands still > the trainer releases pressure being held on the dog

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28
Q

What is the key difference between punishment and negative reinforcement?

A

Punishment = used to DECREASE a behavior
Negative Reinforcement = used to INCREASE a behavior

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29
Q

Adding an undesirable occurrence after a behavior to decrease the frequency of that behavior

A

Positive Punishment

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30
Q

Subtracting something pleasant after a behavior to decrease the frequency of that behavior

A

Negative Punishment

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31
Q

The process by which young animals acquire responses to auditory or visual cues presented by their caretaker(s) in order to recognize and bond with said caretaker(s) / identify them as individuals

A

Imprinting

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32
Q

What period does imprinting occur?

A

Sensitive Period

33
Q

A specific stage early in life of young animals in which the events that occur during this time greatly shape their behavioral response toward other creatures and things

A

Sensitive Period

34
Q

The process of preparing a dog or cat to enjoy interactions and be comfortable with other animals, people, places, and activities

A

Socialization Period

35
Q

What is the socialization period for puppies?

A

4 to 14 weeks

36
Q

What is the socialization period for kittens?

A

2 to 8 weeks

37
Q

What happens if animals are not properly socialized during the sensitive period?

A

The animal is overly fearful of situations later in life

38
Q

Behavior arising from an impulse to harm another being

A

Aggression

39
Q

What is one of the first behaviors new owners should teach a puppy?

A

Housetraining

40
Q

How do you ensure proper imprinting on rodents?

A

Hand feeding

41
Q

Which animals are predisposed to group living?

A

Rodents

42
Q

Types of Aggression:
- when a dog is exposed to an uncomfortable or uncertain stimulus or conflict

A

Conflict-Related Aggression

43
Q

Types of Aggression:
- when the animal is in a situation from which it can’t escape and perceives as threatening

A

Fear-Induced Aggression

44
Q

What are some causes to Conflict-Related Aggression in dogs?

A

-inconsistent and unpredictable environments
- owners lacking knowledge of proper training

45
Q

What are some causes of Fear-Induced Aggression?

A
  • animal can’t escape
  • loud noises
  • children
  • specific people
46
Q

Types of Aggression:
- differs from other forms of aggression in that there is no warning from the animal
- instinctual

A

Predatory Aggression

47
Q

Types of Aggression:
- protective instinct when pain is inflicted

A

Pain-Induced Aggression

48
Q

Types of Aggression:
- testosterone driven instinct

A

Inter-Male Aggression

49
Q

How is Inter-Male Aggression eliminated?

A

Castration

50
Q

Types of Aggression:
- when an unfamiliar creature enters the animal’s perceived territory

A

Territorial Aggression

51
Q

Types of Aggression:
- when a mother believes her young are in danger

A

Maternal Aggression

52
Q

Differences between dogs and cats with regards to Territorial Aggression?

A

Cats = aggressive toward other cats in their perceived territory
Dogs = aggressive toward humans who aren’t members of their household

53
Q

When a pet urinates or defecates inside the home

A

House-Soiling

54
Q

What are 3 reasons for house-soiling in dogs?

A
  1. Marking territory
  2. Not being walked enough
  3. Fear
55
Q

A form filled out by the client as part of the screening process to identify possible issues and solutions for behavioral problems

A

Behavioral History Form

56
Q

Appropriate behavioral therapy depends on what 3 things?

A
  1. Species
  2. Breed
  3. Nature of the problem behavior
57
Q

What is the cornerstone of any successful attempt to resolve problem behavior?

A

Trust

58
Q

What are the two types of rewards in behavior modification?

A
  1. Edible
  2. Vocal
59
Q

How long should initial behavior modification sessions be?

A

5 minutes

60
Q

What are the 6 things you must consider when choosing the appropriate behavior modification technique?

A
  1. Cause of the problem
  2. Species
  3. Breed
  4. Age
  5. Gender
  6. Owner’s ability to perform behavior therapy
61
Q

Type of reward by giving a command and immediately rewarding the desired response every time it’s performed until the pet responds consistently

A

Command-Response Reward

62
Q

A device used to signal to the animal that it performed the right behavior and will receive a reward

A

Clicker

63
Q

Therapy that involves creating a relationship between an unpleasant stimulus and an [object or area] that an animal may be marking, chewing, or damaging

A

Aversion Therapy

64
Q

Therapy that involves using positive punishment to diminish a problem [behavior]

A

Avoidance Therapy

65
Q

What is an example of Aversion Therapy?

A

Cat jumping on counter > place double sides tape on the counter > unpleasant feeling keeps cat away

66
Q

What is an example of Avoidance Therapy?

A

Dog barks excessively > spray with hose to startle dog

67
Q

Therapy that involves surrounding the animal with the stimulus causing the problem until the animal becomes acclimated to the stimulus and is no longer afraid of it

A

Habituation

68
Q

What types of behavior problems should Habituation Therapy ONLY be used on?

A

Minor behavior problems

69
Q

In order for Punishment Therapy to be effective, the punishment must include what 4 things?

A
  1. Occur every time the behavior occurs
  2. Be applied immediately
  3. Be of appropriate intensity
  4. Not connect the owner to the punishment
70
Q

Therapy that involves taking a stimulus linked to a negative emotion and reconditioning the animal by linking the stimulus to a positive emotional response

A

Counterconditioning

71
Q

What is an example of Counterconditioning Therapy?

A

Dog barks at mailman > train the dog to sit quietly when he arrives

72
Q

Therapy that involves diminishing a particular behavior by gradually exposing the animal to the stimulus that produces the inappropriate response

A

Desensitization

73
Q

What is an example of Desensitization Therapy?

A

Dog fearful of kids > expose the dog at a distance for brief periods of time > gradually increase time and decrease distance

74
Q

What are 1 or 2 examples of Environmental Modification with regards to cat behavior modification?

A
  1. Cat poops on carpet > wrap a piece of carpet around the litter box
  2. Changing location of the litter box
75
Q

What are Surgical Approaches to behavioral modification used for?

A

For hormone driven behavior problems

76
Q

What is the type of behavioral modification therapy method that is only considered after all other methods have failed and medical causes ruled out?

A

Pharmaceutical Therapy

77
Q

What is the best behavioral modification technique for birds?

A

Environmental Modification

78
Q

What is the best method to stop a bird from biting?

A

Wobble

79
Q

What is an example of Environmental Modification with regards to bird behavior?

A

Bird squawks persistently with no medical/physical basis > move the cage to a different room or cover the cage for 5-10 min